Susan Slusser’s Hall of Fame ballot

I’ve always been a strong believer in keeping the Baseball Hall of Fame to just the best of the best, the tiny group of players who are slam-dunk Hall of Famers, and I typically vote for just two or three players per year. One reader calls me “Small Hall” Slusser.

Thanks to the backlog created by last year’s “steroid ballot,” I voted for far more players this year than I ever have: eight. And my views are evolving to consider some players I might not term “slam-dunk” – this year, for instance, I voted for Mike Mussina, who might not necessarily appear to be a no-brainer first-ballot Hall of Famer. I came around on Jeff Bagwell a year ago.

In that spirit, let me assure all the Barry Bonds advocates that I continue to reassess my position on the steroid guys each year. I wrote about the struggles the steroid era presents voters about a year ago, and I don’t need to rehash that. And I certainly see that the path of voting for everyone regardless of steroid history is strewn with fewer minefields; I cannot pretend to know who or who didn’t use steroids with any certainty.

I’m still not there yet, though. I believe those linked to PEDs with strong evidence knowingly, willingly created an unlevel playing field through chemical means – cheating that cannot be uncovered on the field during the course of the game. That act that always was considered shameful even as blind eyes were turned toward the incursion of steroids into the game during the 90s, perhaps earlier. Amphetamines never were considered secret nor shameful, and the use of greenies was so rampant that the level-playing field argument doesn’t come into it. Decades ago, trainers even handed greenies out to players.

So much for not re-hashing things, but I do feel I owe an explanation of the thought process, and again must emphasize that I listen to arguments on both sides every year with an open mind and my views could change. I’d like it to: it would be easier. My colleague Henry Schulman and many others have sound reasoning on this topic, but I continue to believe the character and integrity clause on the Hall of Fame ballot precludes known cheaters.

At any rate, here are the players I voted for this year, with some quick reasoning:

3.) Tom Glavine – has loads of hardware, a career of consistent excellence, postseason prowess.

4.) Mike Mussina – all of the above except the hardware, and in a tougher division and a tougher league. I don’t vote for a few popular candidates because of longevity/sustained excellence reasons but Mussina is off the charts in this area, with a 20-win season his final year.

5.) Craig Biggio – I voted for him last year, no changes. (Update: at 74.8 percent of the vote, just announced, Biggio missed out barely today, but the good news is that he is virtually assured of enshrinement next year, based on the typical voting trends.)

6.) Mike Piazza – as I said last year, I think he’s a slam-dunk, too, as the greatest offensive catcher of all time. He never was connected to steroids with any strong evidence, only whispers.

7.) Jeff Bagwell – I was a little slow to come around on him, but a reader’s persistence worked; I’m now a firm believer he’s a Hall of Famer and underappreciated in his day. Alyson Footer, who saw him daily, thinks those who did not just don’t get it, and I think she’s right.

8.) Curt Schilling – OK, he’s not a slam dunk, but his postseason numbers are astonishing and his strikeout to walk ratio of 4.28 is best all-time in the modern era.

As always, I wrestled with Tim Raines; I love the guy and think he is a terrific candidate (yes, he is comparable to Tony Gwynn, I get that), but the career peak was too short for me. Alan Trammell, also a great candidate, but the overall numbers and lack of black ink hurt. They’re in my Hall of Very Good, along with Jack Morris. Very close, but not quite there for me.

Feel free to lobby me any year about any candidate – I obviously listen – and I’ll also consider all arguments about the steroid players, as I said, but please keep it civil or it goes in the delete pile.